Got a new radar recently but have not made up my mind about where to mount it, on the mast or on a pole on the transom.
Looking for opinions and experiences.
On the mast seems like the obvious option given the increased range, and it's out of the way.
I hear that close quarter visibility is much better when mounted on a pole on the transom.
What's you opinion, what do you have and how do you find it, and is there much difference at all between the two options?
Mines been in my office for the past several months. I did have it mounted on top of a bimini frame, but that was only ever a temporary measure. I wanted to ditch the bimini frame and I didn't want to put it up the mast (weight), so I just took it off for the time being. Remember that for ever 1kg up the mast you're negating your righting moment by a factor of 3 or so. I've decided to make a post and mount it on the transom. I actually have a bit of a bend in my pushpit on one side and I'm toying with the idea of replacing one vertical member with the radar post when I fix it and put a beefier base on that post.
My radar is mounted on the side of the mast. By mounting on the side you don't have the problem of the jib catching and chafing on it. Short range vision is no problems. You do get a bit of ghosting out to starboard which don't cause a problem.
I have mine on the mast. You would probably get better distance up higher but there will be those that say keep weight low.
All I have to say is if you put it on a transom mounted pole, give thought to the hight for when you have the boat lifted out of the water. I have a wind generator on a pole and while the boat can be lifted with the pole in place, it's too high and it needs to be removed for the travel lift to put the boat down and move away.
Select to expand quotetroubadour said..
Don't Forget RADHAZ if you mount it on a pole down aft.
Not applicable to the new generation of small radars as they don't use microwaves the same way the old school units did.
Mine's mounted on an aft pole. Mainly because that is where the original unit was mounted. I did ache over the decision to put it on the mast, but at the end of the day it works fine and while it might not have the same range as a mast mounted unit it presents one less obstacle for halyards to catch on.
Put mine on the mast above the inner stay.
Gets good long range and still receives relatively good close range echoes .
Ideally I would have liked it a bit lower on the mast but too much stuff in the way.
Thanks all.
Looks like people are happy either way. Mast mount console cost a few hundred, seems like a simple install. Pole would either be a DIY job or a Garhauer for a grand and a half.
I'm thinking the performance overall will be good either way. A mast mount seems like a simpler and cheaper installation. Will add a plug close to the mast base so it can be easily disconnected.
Select to expand quoteJolene said..
Put mine on the mast above the inner stay.
Gets good long range and still receives relatively good close range echoes .
Ideally I would have liked it a bit lower on the mast but too much stuff in the way.
How close can you see?
Never had a radar before so not sure what to expect.
Select to expand quotejev7337 said..Jolene said..
Put mine on the mast above the inner stay.
Gets good long range and still receives relatively good close range echoes .
Ideally I would have liked it a bit lower on the mast but too much stuff in the way.
How close can you see?
Never had a radar before so not sure what to expect.
My radome is approx 8 m above the deck and I can see mooring bouys from about 45 to 50 m in front. Anything higher above the waterline than a bouy shows up closer
Select to expand quoteJolene said..jev7337 said..Jolene said..
Put mine on the mast above the inner stay.
Gets good long range and still receives relatively good close range echoes .
Ideally I would have liked it a bit lower on the mast but too much stuff in the way.
How close can you see?
Never had a radar before so not sure what to expect.
My radome is approx 8 m above the deck and I can see mooring bouys from about 45 to 50 m in front. Anything higher above the waterline than a bouy shows up closer
Awesome, thanks.
Select to expand quoteToph said..
All I have to say is if you put it on a transom mounted pole, give thought to the hight for when you have the boat lifted out of the water. I have a wind generator on a pole and while the boat can be lifted with the pole in place, it's too high and it needs to be removed for the travel lift to put the boat down and move away.
I had mine on a pole off my davits & had the height problem with the travel lift. I have since replaced the radar with a wind genny & have to remove it before lift out. I also have to undo the backstay as well prior to lift out.
